Zimbabwe Safari Holidays…

See 20,000 elephants on Hwange's rich plains.

Until 2001 it was seen as one of the finest countries for a top quality wilderness experience. The guides were the best in Africa, and the Zambezi River, the open plains of Hwange and the unique Kariba shoreline were settings for enthralling game viewing adventures. The political chaos of the last eight years saw a drop in tourism and the closure of many lodges and camp5s.

Yet it is now ready to welcome tourists again and we think that as soon as political change happens it will quickly revive as one of Africa’s most exciting destinations. There are still tens of thousands of elephants and vast numbers of plains game in Hwange with almost no-one to see them. Herds of buffalo, carefully protected rhinoceros and prides of lion roam the Kariba shoreline watched by pods of yawning hippo and crocodiles which lurk menacingly in the semi-submerged tree lines. Paddling and drifting down the Lower Zambezi for a few days on a canoe remains an unforgettable adventure, while the Chimanimani Highlands are some of the best for walking in Africa. A number of Zimbabwe’s best camps are still running and are set to thrive as tourists return. Makololo Plains is a luxury tented camp deep in southern Hwange, almost besieged by elephants as the long dry season advances. At Ruckomechi you can enjoy walking and thrilling game drives in the dreamlike landscapes of Mana Pools as well as sunset boat rides on the Zambezi, and in Kariba Steve Edwards superb little Musango Camp is now joined by a reopened five star Bumi Hills Safari Lodge. And of course that Grand Old Lady, the Victoria Falls Hotel with her classic courtyards and red tiled roof, established in 1904 – still the best place to admire the mile wide waterfall. So, if you want to beat the rush back to this magnificent destination, call Africa Exclusive and we’ll organise a magical fly in safari. The camps and lodges are running well, the wildlife is in great condition, the infrastructure works and the patient and friendly people will welcome you with open arms.

Zimbabwe Highlights

Wildlife

The waters of the Zambezi River which runs along Zimbabwe’s northern border brings life to thousands of animals. Families of elephants love the river, swimming, drinking, splashing themselves down at sunset.

Accommodation

We will arrange for you to stay in small comfortable tented camps and lodges in remote locations inside national parks. Some, like Makololo in the deep south of Hwange, and Rukomechi in Mana have been in their prime positions for over thirty years.

Families

The school summer holidays coincide with peak game viewing time as the dry season nears its peak. The more active nature of safaris in Zimbabwe make it a perfect place for a holiday with teenagers. Enjoy the canoeing, walking, fishing and open vehicle drives with some of Africa’s most elite guides.

Activities

It is widely acknowledged that Zimbabwean guides are the best trained in Africa. The country has a rigorous guide apprenticeship and testing programme which means that the highest qualified guides have phenomenal knowledge and experience of the bush and its wildlife.

Relaxation

Victoria Falls is a great place for a few days relaxation. We know several excellent lodges in peaceful settings beside the Zambezi where you can while away the time with a good book and a pair of binoculars. Of course there is also a host of activities at the falls including rafting, canoeing, microlighting, fishing, even bungee jumping.

Hwange

The Hwange National Park, formerly known as Wankie, was once home to the nomadic San Bushmen and the warrior king Mzilikazi. Founded by a young game ranger called Ted Davidson, it was declared a national park in 1929 and is now the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe - covering an area of 5,600 square miles (about the same size as Belgium). It lies to the west of Zimbabwe between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, which is a mere two hours drive away. Hwange has a good infrastructure with roads, shops and even an airport however it is not touristy and offers a fantastic wilderness experience.

Lying close to the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the region has little water with sparse, xerophile vegetation. It is a place of extreme contrasts. During the dry months the park is very inhospitable with crusted and cracked salt pan landscapes. The animals are helped by 60 man-made waterholes which provide them with much needed water until the rains arrive bringing new growth. Despite these harsh conditions the park is home to 105 species of animals, including 19 herbivores and eight carnivores. This protected area is also inhabited by one of the largest surviving groups of African wild dog and it is a bird lover’s paradise with over 400 species including 50 different types of raptor and huge numbers of the ground dwelling Kori Bustard. The elephant population has thrived in Hwangwe and the population exceeds that which is naturally supported in the area.

Hwange combines well with contrasting Victoria Falls offering superb game viewing with the thrills of the falls. It is also a great destination for horse riding safaris – being the first national park in Africa to allow riding.

Hwange

The Hwange National Park, formerly known as Wankie, was once home to the nomadic San Bushmen and the warrior king Mzilikazi. Founded by a young game ranger called Ted Davidson, it was declared a national park in 1929 and is now the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe - covering an area of 5,600 square miles (about the same size as Belgium). It lies to the west of Zimbabwe between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, which is a mere two hours drive away. Hwange has a good infrastructure with roads, shops and even an airport however it is not touristy and offers a fantastic wilderness experience.

Lying close to the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the region has little water with sparse, xerophile vegetation. It is a place of extreme contrasts. During the dry months the park is very inhospitable with crusted and cracked salt pan landscapes. The animals are helped by 60 man-made waterholes which provide them with much needed water until the rains arrive bringing new growth. Despite these harsh conditions the park is home to 105 species of animals, including 19 herbivores and eight carnivores. This protected area is also inhabited by one of the largest surviving groups of African wild dog and it is a bird lover’s paradise with over 400 species including 50 different types of raptor and huge numbers of the ground dwelling Kori Bustard. The elephant population has thrived in Hwangwe and the population exceeds that which is naturally supported in the area.

Hwange combines well with contrasting Victoria Falls offering superb game viewing with the thrills of the falls. It is also a great destination for horse riding safaris – being the first national park in Africa to allow riding.

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Why should you book with us?

One of the leading Africa travel specialists for over 25 years, our team has hundreds of years of combined travel experience.

Our specialists have a personal understanding of the destinations they are recommending for you.

You will have your travel planner and a dedicated co-ordinator ensure that you receive the best service from the moment you first contact us until you return from your holiday.

Our detailed planning and preparation will ensure that your holiday runs like clockwork.

Experience impeccable service throughout your holiday with the support of our dedicated and experienced partners on the ground.

We have a 24 hour emergency phone contact, should you need to speak with us while you are away.

Luxury safari pricing guide

We aim to provide you with your ideal holiday, individually designed just for you and expertly organised. When you book with us you receive this perfectly designed holiday, travel advice and preparation, flawless organisation of the trip, ATOL financial protection and our 25 years’ experience. Because we have excellent confidential rates with lodges and airlines, the price of your holiday will be generally the same as you would pay were you to somehow book all the lodges, transfers and flights yourself.

There is a world of difference between one of our tailormade safaris and most package holidays printed in a brochure. Package holidays are usually designed to be as cheap as possible and of course involve large numbers of people doing the same thing. Our safaris use small, more exclusive and remote camps usually with guests flying in, and often virtually everything is included in the price. The experience is completely different.

Many of these small lodges and camps have broadly similar prices, and it is possible to arrange a superb safari holiday for between £6,000 to £10,000 per person ($8,000 – $13,000) season dependant, all inclusive. Realistically it is difficult to reduce that figure, and by including Botswana in peak season, chartering a private plane, disappearing to some magical desert island, or flying at the front of the plane it’s easy to substantially increase that figure!